GETTING THE “W”: The Dodgers pounced on A’s starter Rich Hill yesterday, plating five runs in the first inning on their way to an 8-3 victory. Trayce Thompson’s first-inning home run was the big blow and catcher A.J. Ellis went 2-for-3 with three RBI. On the mound, Kenta Maeda collected his first victory of the Cactus League campaign after firing 3.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Yimi Garcia (1.0 IP), Chris Anderson (1.0) and Matt West (1.0) also tossed scoreless baseball yesterday.

The Dodgers took five of their six regular-season games against the Angels last season, sweeping a series at Dodger Stadium and taking two of three in Anaheim.

VIVA MEXICO: Yesterday, Major League Baseball announced details for the Panama City and Mexicali WBC qualifiers for the 2017 classic. Dodger first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will play for his brother, Edgar, on team Mexico from March 17-20 in Mexicali. Germany, the Czech Republic and Nicaragua are the other squads in Mexico’s qualifier.

In addition, Dodger legend Eric Gagné will manage team France as they try to advance in their qualifier against Spain, Colombia and Panama.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETEY!: The Dodgers would like to wish a very happy birthday to reliever Pedro Baez, who turns 28 today. The hard-throwing right-hander appeared in 52 games for the Dodgers last season, compiling an ERA of 3.35 and striking out 60 batters in 51.0 innings.IN CASE YOU HADN’T NOTICED: The Dodgers announced Wednesday that the game on Monday, May 30 in Chicago against the Cubs is scheduled to start at 4:05 PM CT/ 2:05 PM PT. The day before, the Dodgers take on the NL champion Mets at Citi Field at 8:05 p.m. ET on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

TODAY’S PROBABLE PITCHERS:

RHP Zach Lee will make his second start of the spring after allowing one hit and striking out one in 2.0 scoreless innings on Sunday against the Giants in Scottsdale. Lee, 24, saw his first big league action last season, starting at New York-NL on July 25, and was named the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year after combining to go 13-6 with a 2.63 ERA in 21 starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers. Lee ranked among the Triple-A Pacific Coast League leaders in wins (11, T-3rd), ERA (2.70, 2nd), WHIP (1.11, 1st), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.26, 3rd) and home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (0.40, 3rd).

LHP Julio Urias will make his first appearance of the spring after being slowed early in camp by a left groin injury. The 19-year-old, who was the Dodgers’ 2014 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, combined to go 3-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 18 starts last year, primarily with Double-A Tulsa before a late-season promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Urias also made several rehab starts last year with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and the Rookie-level AZL Dodgers following cosmetic surgery on his left eye, which cost him two months of the season on the DL. Urias enters the 2016 season rated by MLB.com as the top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball and the fourth-best overall prospect.

RHP Pedro Baez will make his third appearance of the spring. Baez saw his first full big league action last season with the Dodgers, going 4-2 with a 3.35 ERA in 52 relief appearances.

RHP Louis Coleman will make his third Cactus League appearance after facing the Rangers and Indians. Coleman enters his first season with the Dodgers after signing with the club on Feb. 19, 2016.

LHP J.P. Howell will come on in relief for the second time this spring after one outing against the Indians. He finished the 2015 season posting a 6-1 record with one save and tossed scoreless relief in 59 of 65 appearances.

RHP Kenley Jansen is expected to make a relief appearance for the second time after allowing one run in 1.0 inning of work against the Indians. He enters his seventh big league season after successfully converting 36 of 38 save opportunities last year, the third-highest single-season save percentage in team history (Gagne: 2003-100.0%, 2004-95.7%).

RHP Jacob Rhame will make his third Cactus League outing. He combined to go 3-3 with four saves and a 2.68 ERA in 44 relief appearances last season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa.

LHP Ian Thomas will pitch in his second game of the spring after 1.0 scoreless inning against the Indians. A 2015 mid-season acquisition from the Atlanta Braves, he made nine relief appearances (one start) for the Dodgers going 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA.

Google +

Pinterest

Supporters

Blue Heaven In The News

“There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey. There’s nothing like it in sports. I don’t care that I’ve never been anywhere else. I don’t care. There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey.” -- A.J. Ellis